Frank Orsatti

Actor, stuntman

Actor and stuntman Frank Orsatt died in Sherman Oaks, Calif. Dec. 23 of acute respiratory failure. He was 62.

The son of St. Louis Cardinals baseball player Ernest, an injury prevented him from also joining the Cardinals. His career in stunts began with “Planet of the Apes,” and he went on to appear in films including “Rosemary’s Baby,” “The Poseidon Adventure,” “The Longest Yard” and “Con Air.”

He was Arnold Schwarzenegger’s stunt double in “The Terminator” and Burt Reynolds’ double for nine years. Orsatti was the stunt coordinator for “Serpico” and “Highlander II.” On TV, he worked on show including “The Streets of San Francisco,” Mod Squad and “Starsky and Hutch.”

After doing stunts for “The Magician,” he continued working with Bill Bixby as stunt coordinator and Bixby’s stunt double on “The Incredible Hulk.” He also directed several episodes of the show, and was second unit director on “Sherlock Holmes Returns,” “Stark” and “Strays.”

He is survived by wife Julie Ann, two brothers, two daughters and a granddaughter.

A memorial for Orsatti will be held Jan. 26 at 7:00 p.m. at Castaway Restaurant, 1250 Harvard Rd., Burbank. Donations may be made to the Frank Orsatti memorial fund, 14101 Dickens Ave., #6, Sherman Oaks, CA 91423.